GREED

Well, folks, it seems to me that “amateur athletics” is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Greed has now reached the middle school level. The vast majority of state athletic associations have approved that students can receive money for their athletic prowess.

With the introduction of the “NIL” (name, image, and likeness) profit program, we are witnessing a point where even seventh and eighth graders can turn “pro.” There’s no doubt in my mind that NIL will even reach the youth level in years to come.

That’s sad because youth athletes are pressured enough to win by their parents and coaches — be it subtle or observable. I can just hear a parent say, “You gotta win or we might lose ‘our’ NIL money!”

Oops! News Flash! They are seriously considering NIL for youth athletes.

I just read the following announcement:

Youth baseball event operator and recruiting platform ‘Perfect Game’ announced it had entered into a multiyear agreement with Fanatics to distribute trading cards, collectibles and memorabilia. Perfect Game runs around 10,000 events annually, and to participate, athletes sign a release that grants Perfect Game “the absolute and irrevocable right” to use their name, signature, likeness, image, voice and/or appearance in any photos, videos, audio, digital images, or cards on behalf of Perfect Game or its affiliates, at any present or future events related to Perfect Game. Now, the deal with Fanatics will allow the company to begin producing and distributing trading cards and other memorabilia of Perfect Game athletes beginning later this year.

A broad NIL grant similar to Perfect Game language is customary to participate in youth sports events. Youth sports operators want to be able to capture photo and video content to promote the event and publicize event participants to potential colleges, professional scouts, and other athletes. These types of NIL grants have been largely uncontroversial because the activations are usually on a group basis, youth sports athletes benefit from the promotion, and such grants do not displace personal NIL opportunities.

From the article: “Your Kid as a Collectible: NIL in the Youth Sports Space found at BakerHostetler.com.”

Yes, it seems that kids will no longer compete for the “love of the sport,” but for the “love of money.”

LOYALTY

Loyalty is another dying characteristic in the athletic arena. With the introduction of “portals” in college sports, there’s less and less “school spirit” amongst collegiate competitors. Furthermore, portal transfers are occurring more and more each passing year due to greener financial pastures.

Of course, college coaches also move from school to school for the same reason. If you’re looking for loyalty in the higher education athletic setting, it can only be found in the bleachers.

Even in high school, athletes are transferring to other schools mainly because they want to be on a winning team. This was not the case for one outstanding Ohio Valley athlete — Carl Foder Jr. of Weir High School (Class of 1982).

I had the pleasure of meeting him when he was inducted into the OVAC Hall of Fame in 2021. His loyalty to the “Red Riders” was nonpareil. Allow me to share with you his remarkable story as a scholastic football player.

Carl Fodor was a three-year starter as quarterback for the Red Riders. He set the school career passing record of 2,090 yards (it lasted until 2005) despite playing on three “losing record” teams.

As a senior, he was sidelined from Weir’s first three games with a collarbone injury. In the seven remaining games, he passed for 1,213 yards, completing 74 of 165 passes with 8 TDs for a 1-9 record team. In their win over Mount View (27-12), he passed for 269 yards, then second-best in school history.

Although he missed three games at the beginning of his senior year, Fodor still earned second-team Class AAA all-state honors as well as all-Valley and all-Mountaineer League plaudits. He was selected to play in the West Virginia North-South All-Star Game in Charleston and quarterbacked the North squad to an upset victory.

Now that’s what true loyalty is all about.

He didn’t transfer to a school with a winning record.

Instead, Carl Foder, Jr. stood by his fellow teammates during the best of times and mostly, during the worst of times. What class!

In closing, we now live in a world where greed has fully grasped athletics at all levels and loyalty has taken a back seat. Furthermore, the “scholar-athlete” is becoming a thing of the past. I am so thankful I grew up in simpler times when we competed in sports for fun, not for financial gain.

Bill Welker, Ed.D., is currently a freelance Op/Ed columnist who enjoys writing articles on sports, education and any topic that piques his interest. He can be contacted by e-mail at mattalkwv@hotmail.com.